90s claw clips are making a comeback thanks to Alexander Wang

It’s official, we have reached peak retro – the claw clip is BACK. We’ve seen scrunchies, chokers and bum bags make their unlikely return in recent seasons, but the latest not-been-seen since 1999 accessory to get a fashion makeover is the claw hair clip, which made a cameo at New York Fashion Week.

Alexander Wang’s AW18 show was the scene of the revival: the designer sent models in Matrix-style black sunglasses and power suits down the runway, hair slicked back and held in place by silver claw clamps.

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Lisa Cowan

Speaking backstage at the show, Redken lead hairstylist and creative director Guido Palau discussed Wang’s choice of hair accessory. "I love when something's been around and has a funny connotation,” he said. “It's like the mullet haircut, which three or four years ago would have been a no-no, now is super cool. I love the way something is reintroduced into fashion, and we look at it again in a different way."

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This was definitely a more glamorous outing for the hair accessory that was last seen gathering dust on a bathroom shelf in your mum’s house. But its appearance on Wang’s runway means the claw, also known as a jaw or banana clip, is now a major fashion story. Bear in mind, Wang was one of the first pioneers of athleisure, which became the biggest fashion trend this century. And hey, if he can even transform sweatpants into a highly desirable fashion item, then we’re pretty sure he can convince us all that claw clips are cool again.